Piloting a School-Based Distress Tolerance Skills Program for Adolescents

NCT06638853 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00027611
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 74
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Research suggests that an individual's perceived ability to withstand distressing or upsetting emotions (i.e., distress tolerance; DT) is a common risk factor across several mental health conditions that commonly emerge during adolescence. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a classroom-based DT skills training program for middle school students. This study will also explore associations between changes in DT and internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression).

Conditions

Distress, Emotional; Internalizing Mental Health Symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Feasibility

  Consent rates during enrollment and attrition rates during the study will be used to assess the feasibility of the intervention.

  Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention

• Acceptability

  The investigators will use a brief feedback survey at the end of the study to gather information about participants' experiences of the intervention. Responses on this survey will be used to determine the acceptability of the intervention.

  Immediately post-intervention

• Distress Tolerance

  The investigators will assess change in distress tolerance from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Distress tolerance will be indexed by total scores on the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), which is a 15-item self-report measure that assesses the respondent's perceived ability to withstand distressing or upsetting emotional states. Possible total scores can range from 15 to 75. Higher scores indicate higher distress tolerance. This outcome measure will be examined and compared for both the intervention group and the control group.

  Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Internalizing Symptoms

  Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Distress Tolerance Skills Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Students will participate in a series of classroom-based lessons aimed at increasing distress tolerance.

Behavioral: Distress Tolerance Skills Training

Standard Curriculum (Control)

NO INTERVENTION

Students will not participate in the distress tolerance skills training. They will receive only their standard curriculum during class time.

Interventions

Distress Tolerance Skills Training BEHAVIORAL

These lessons are adapted from "DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A)" by Mazza et al. and include elements of mindfulness training, psychoeducation about emotions, and techniques/skills for managing extreme emotions.

Distress Tolerance Skills Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Middle school aged-youth attending Valley Catholic Middle School in grade 6, 7, or 8

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oregon Health and Science University: lead
• Valley Catholic Middle School: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Valley Catholic Middle School

Beaverton, Oregon, 97078, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Bonnie Nagel, PhD

  Oregon Health and Science University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2024
• First Posted: October 15, 2024
• Study Start: October 25, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: June 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)